The bright yellow hard hat and tool belt came off during The Masked Singer Season 14 this week. In a double elimination on the special Clueless Night, the celebrity behind the Handyman costume was revealed to be iconic rapper and actor Tone Lōc. The star, famous for 1990s hits like Wild Thing and Funky Cold Medina, was unmasked on the episode that aired Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
The episode celebrated the 30th anniversary of the classic teen film Clueless. Handyman was eliminated alongside another contestant, Scarab, who was revealed to be Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson. Judge Robin Thicke correctly identified Tone Lōc, while other panelists guessed different artists.
Handyman Performance and Clue Breakdown
For his final performance, Handyman took the stage to perform Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest. The performance followed a week where he sang Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches & Herb.
The clues presented for Handyman pointed heavily toward his identity. A package shown during the January 21 episode explained a painful accident changed his voice overnight. It stated his voice could then be heard on the radio, in movies, and in kids’ shows. Other clues included references to growing up on the West Coast as a tough kid and having a daughter.
Specific visual clues strongly hinted at his film career. The clue package showed images referencing Robert De Niro and Courteney Cox. Tone Lōc starred alongside De Niro in the film Heat and appeared with Cox in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. A license plate reading Ace of Spades was another nod to the Ace Ventura movie. A backpack filled with candy wrappers suggested the celebrity was a rapper.
Why Tone Lōc Joined The Masked Singer
In interviews after his reveal, Tone Lōc shared that he decided to join the show because of a dare. He said his friends and family did not believe he would agree to wear a costume and perform on the program.
They didn’t think that I would. Probably because I have this macho type of image or something like that.
He told Billboard that his daughter was one of the people who dared him, saying, You would not put on a mask and costume and dance and sing. Once he saw what the show was about, he agreed to participate.
The rapper, whose real name is Anthony Terrell Smith, also discussed the secretive nature of the production. He described it as some FBI-type stuff, with contestants being covered head-to-toe when moving to their dressing rooms.
The Famous Raspy Voice
Tone Lōc’s uniquely raspy voice was a major topic after his reveal. He is known for his deep, gravelly vocal tone, which became a signature of his music. The clue about a childhood accident that changed his voice refers to a real story. The artist has said he got his signature sound after drinking scalding hot tea as a child, which damaged his vocal cords.
Despite being hidden inside the large Handyman costume, his voice was recognizable to many viewers and the judges. He admitted he did not try to change or disguise it for the competition.
I mean, I think I did try, but I couldn’t change it. It’s basically is what it is… It is who I am.
Judge Robin Thicke connected the voice to Tone Lōc immediately. Other judges’ guesses included Chuck D, Ice-T, and Mr. T.
What is Next for Tone Lōc
The Grammy-nominated artist has been active on the I Love the 90s concert tour for several years. When asked about new music, he revealed that his time on The Masked Singer has inspired him to consider recording again.
It has been 35 years since his last album, Cool Hand Lōc, was released in 1991. He mentioned he has a new song called Hey, What’s Up? that gets a strong reaction during his live shows and that he is now thinking about recording it officially.
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Other Contestants and Season 14 Details
The Clueless Night episode opened with a group performance of Kids in America by Handyman, Scarab, Snow Cone, and Pugcasso. The wildcard contestant Crane also made a debut during this episode.
With these eliminations, the celebrities unmasked so far in Season 14 include:
- Handyman as Tone Lōc
- Scarab as Taraji P. Henson
- Le Who Who as Tiffany Haddish
- The Croissants as Todd and Julie Chrisley
- Googly Eyes as David Ortiz
Contestants moving forward in the competition include Snow Cone, Pugcasso, Crane, Queen Corgi, and Galaxy Girl, among others. The season features a twist called America’s Insider, where singer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall provides behind-the-scenes clues while secretly being a contestant herself as Cat Witch.
The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu. The next episode is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
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